California

Decades of public education, advocacy and political leadership on marriage equality in California led to the California Supreme Court ruling in May 2008 on In Re: Marriage Cases to uphold the freedom to marry.  In subsequent months, an estimated 18,000 gay couples were married in virtually every county of the state. Unfortunately, Proposition 8,a constitutional amendment designed to supersede the court, narrowly passed in the November 2008 election and gay couples can no longer marry in California. Work is already underway to restore the freedom to marry in California and overturn Prop 8.

Status: Broad Domestic Partnership, Anti-Marriage Constitutional Amendment

Groups Actively Working on Marriage

Equality California: the largest LGBT advocacy organization in California 

Let California Ring: a public education campaign to open hearts and minds about the freedom to marry in California

Marriage Equality U.S.A (MEUSA): a grassroots organization based in CA working for federal and state marriage equality

Courage Campaign: an online organizing network that empowers grassroots and netroots activists to push for progressive change in California

California Faith for Equality: a group bringing together clergy and lay leaders throughout California who support equality for LGBT people

 

Blog Posts Related to California

Jason Mraz: 10 Ways to Start Conversations About the Freedom To Marry

The passage of Prop 8 put the security and freedoms of all Californians at risk by taking away fundamental rights from a minority. Continuing to raise awareness and sparking conversations about the issue is crucial as we move forward to experience Equality For All.

Join the Stars in an anti-Prop 8 Scavenger Hunt to support Marriage Equality & The Williams Inst.

You are cordially invited to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

On April 18, join Neil Patrick Harris, Kristin Chenoweth, Jeff Probst, Steven Weber, Kathy Najimy, Camryn Manheim, and many other celebrities in an anti-Prop 8 scavenger hunt across Los Angeles, with all proceeds going to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.

Video: Interview of Prop 8 Case Attorneys, David Boies and Ted Olson

On Wednesday, March 10, 2010, lead attorneys in the federal challenge to Proposition 8, David Boies and Ted Olson, made their first public appearance since the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial began in January at a New York Times 'Unlikely Allies' talk before 150 people at NYT headquarters in midtown Manhattan.

Boies and Olson discussed where the case goes from here, Judge Vaughn Walker, the case possibly getting ahead of public opinion and a general timeline.

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Resources Related to California

Commentary: California’s Proposition 8 Was Always an Uphill Climb

The former head of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force reflects on the Proposition 8 campaign.

Commentary: How to Avoid our Past Mistakes

Head of the ACLU's LGBT Project reflects on the lessons of Proposition 8

How the Opposition Passed Prop 8

California's Proposition 8's lead strategists outline their strategy

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